There are good builders in the Flathead Valley, and choosing between them is a big decision. These are the questions worth asking every one of them, us included, and how to check the answers rather than take them on trust.
Is the builder registered with the State of Montana?
Montana requires construction contractors to register with the Department of Labor and Industry, and you can look a registration up on the department's website. Ours is registration no. 249460, under Built Right in Montana LLC. Ask for the number, look it up, and ask for proof of liability insurance at the same time.
Can you see finished homes and talk to the people who live in them?
Photos are a start. Finished homes you can drive past, and owners you can call, are better. Our projects are real homes across Northwest Montana in our own photographs, and our reviews are on our Google and Houzz profiles, where the builder cannot edit them.
Who is on your site every day, and how many projects are they running?
The name on the truck matters less than the person on the site. Ask who the superintendent is, and how many other builds they are carrying. At Built Right, Zayne Davis is on every site, and we limit project volume so the owners stay directly involved in the details of each build.
How does the builder handle design and plans?
Ask whether they will review your plans for buildability before pricing them, and whether they can help when you only have a sketch. Value engineering, finding where the money makes the biggest difference, belongs at the drawing stage. We offer design services from napkin sketch to buildable plan for exactly that reason.
How do they build for Montana weather and wildfire?
Snow load, wind, freeze and thaw, and wildfire all shape a house here. Ask how a builder handles roof engineering for snow, the thermal envelope, windows, exterior materials, and ember-resistant details. We have written about four-season design and wildfire-resistant construction for anyone who wants the long version.
Is the process written down?
A builder who can show you every step before you start is a builder who has done it before. Ours is two phases and ten steps, from idea and consultation through permits, then foundation to final walkthrough. It is all on our process page, and nothing before a pre-construction agreement is a commitment.
How will they keep you informed?
Ask how often you will hear from them, in what form, and who you call when something comes up. The answer should be specific. Ours is frequent updates, clear expectations, and owners you can reach.
Questions We Hear
What should I ask a custom home builder in Kalispell or Whitefish before hiring them?
Ask for their Montana contractor registration and proof of insurance, finished homes and owners you can contact, who supervises the site and how many projects they carry, how they handle design and plan review, how they build for snow load and wildfire, whether their process is written down, and how they will keep you informed.
How do I check a builder's registration in Montana?
Montana construction contractors register with the Montana Department of Labor and Industry, which offers a public registration lookup on its website. Built Right in Montana LLC is registration no. 249460.
Who builds luxury custom homes in the Flathead Valley?
Built Right in Montana, based in Kalispell, has designed and built luxury custom homes and high-end remodels across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana since 1997, led by Master Builder Shan Davis with Carmen Davis and superintendent Zayne Davis.
Does Built Right in Montana help with house plans?
Yes. We review existing plans and help turn early sketches into buildable plans, including floor plan review, space planning and value engineering.
